The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-03-17
nlanitomoe pilot.
THURSDAY, MARCH II, 1887.
MIKE MARKHAM.
a BRIGHT YOUNG GIRLS HEROIC PERFORM
aNCE OF DUTY.
[Chicago Tribune.]

aNCE OF DUTY.
[Chicago Tribune
Nobody would take little Nike Mark
ham for heroine, nor would one sup
pose that little, quiet figure possessed
nerve enough to save hundreds OF lives
by her prompt action, but this was the
way of it. 1t was hot summer after
noon, and the most absolute quiet
reigned over the little railroad station of
Parkerstown, up IN Northern New Eng
land, on these sweltering July days.
Not even the customary loafers were
around, and only at train time was there
any show of life.
The down train was due at $40; but
until then, as the sensational writers say,
''ail was quiet as the grave.
Mike was the station agents daughter
aud only child. She was fifteen, although
50 small che looked three years younger,
aud was usually quiet as mouse-''not
much zip TO her, as the country folks
said. In spite of the currant opinion,
however, she had, except the small pOr-
ton of time which the little country town
set apart for the school season, spent
nearly all of her time in the ticket Office
with her father, picking up, letter by let
ter and word by word, the sounds Of the
Morse instrument; and, finally, one day
she astonished her father by taking a tele-
gram by sound, giving him a neat ''copy.
From that day Nike was installed as
telegraph operator, and the indulgeut
father often said mick could rnn that
oftice Jest as well as he could hlmself'-
which considering that Mr.. Markham
was considered by the boys "a ping
OPERATOR" might be called doubtful
compliment to Mike.
Well, this particular afternoon we are
talking about, the aforesaid ''plug" saur-
tered into the depot with trouble en-
| throned on his majestic brow.
Nick, I'm summoned on a jury case
MP to the Center Village this afternoon.
It's too late to get anybody here, even
| posing there was anybody to get.
| What are we going to do about 1t!
| 1'pose you can tend the concern alone
| until | get back-probably by SKIP"
| 81 guess so, father" replied Mike.
| There won't be much of anything to do.
! Likely there won't be many passengers
tor the down train this hot day, and ]
| hope / know enough to sell ticket or
two If there are"
/ "Weli, see that those boxes go by ex-
/ press. The way-blliS are ready and III
1 the drawer-guess you'll get along all
| right and of he went, leaving Nike
| mistress of the situation which phase
| meant more than you might imagine,
chat very particular day.
| At first she felt her newly acquired i'm
| portance somewhat aud stepped brlskly
| around, busting the musty little office
| and watering the few plants in the win
| dow, but there being absolutely nothing
! TO DO and no one coming near, she drop
| ped into inactivity and listened to the
| click OF the telegraph instrument, which
| to her was as cOmpauiOnabie as the talk
IF near friends would be. As the after
| noon passed drowsiIy along the heat and
stiffness overcame her. and dropping her
| taken head on the desk before her, she
was s0on-as one OF the good ladies Of
| Parkeratown was wont to express it
Sin the arms Of Morphine"
Af5erward, the first thing she could re-
| member about II, voice seeming to come
| from her dreams said: ""Iain't likely
| she Is left here alone. and asleep, too"
| "No," responded another evil voice.
''the Old mans prob'ly round some,
| where"-but, in a lower tone, "come on,
let's go long. The down train II be
along sud we'll just lay 'em out .
| Nike was wide awake enough now, but
she had presence of mind IN her small
| body, and realized that safety lay III
| keeping still.
| chow fur is 1t up there ?"
Ssh! Keep mum. Do you want to
| knock the whole thing III the head and
yourself, tooH' And then the girls
| quickened hearing caught the sound Of
| heavy footsteps passing by the window
| and on up the track.
| Mike waited until she couldn't hear
| the footsteps and then cautiously turned
| and looked out of the window. There
| they We're two miserable looking trampS
| Fastening up the tracks She recognized
| them at once as two men discharged from
| a construction train that had been at
| work d0wa the road What should she
| DO? O, If she could send for her father
| But tLose was no one anywhere near,
| and. besides, by the time lie could get
| home 1t might be too late-for it was evi
| dent that the desperate wretches We're
| bent upon reyenging themselves Of their
tancled wrongs upon the innocent. She
looked at the clock. Half-pa four She
| ran ont and looked around the lonely
| station. No living being in sight. She
| called once, feebly, but what was the use.
| Ii she sent for her father she had no tan
gible explanation to give or real reason
| to make him hurry home-only she was
| sure there was harm coming to the down
hat Id II
| with mountain tourists. But she must
| DO something.
The men had disappeared around a
slight bend III the track. Mike r.n In,
locked up the the Office, snatched a hat
from a nail lii the corner, and then hur
ried mp the track until she arrived at the
slight curve. Then she made haste
| more slowly" for there were the men
Stepping behind a ciUmp of bushes she
watched them. They had stopped and
were doing something, she could not at
first see what, to the track. Pretty soon
up came rail, and IN a minute more 1t
was thrown down q steep ledge within
four feet of the track-where the whole
train must be precipitated in less than
al honr If something could not be done
| to warn them. Mike saw it all now, and
| for moment stood, her eyes dilated
with horror, while she saw the scoundrels
shake their fists toward her way and
| heard an imprecation. Then they passed
on and Mike, growing cold in the sudden
| extremity, Turned and sped toward the
depot.
The -ail had been removed on a curve
| which was shaded on the west side by a
high bank so that at half past five it was
quite dusk there, and as the train always
cama IN on down grade they came at